Novel adsorbents consisting of ZnFe2O4/Zn-5(OH)(6)(CO3)(2) (hydrozincite) nanocomposite materials were studied for efficient As(V) removal from water. Nanocomposites were synthesized by the co-precipitation of Zn and Fe salts in alkaline conditions. Depending on the Zn/Fe molar ratio, a variety of materials was produced with different ZnFe2O4/Zn-5(OH)(6)(CO3)(2) contents. The adsorbent's efficiency for As(V) removal was enhanced proportionally to the percentage of Zn-5(OH)(6)(CO3)(2) content. The nanocomposite with 74 +/- 7wt% of Zn-5(OH)(6)(CO3)(2) provided a capacity of 18.4g As(V)/mg for residual concentration of 10g/L (pH 7) which is over twice that of an iron oxy-hydroxide prepared under similar conditions.